The Poem as Feeling: Belonging and Discomfort

The Poem as Feeling: Belonging and Discomfort

ByGift Gawanani MaulukaDec 12, 20258 min read

I wrote the poem Robes Rob Us in a moment when my mind was clouded by the pressure of completing…

Between Human Rights Law and African Literature: Interview with Grace…

Between Human Rights Law and African Literature: Interview with Grace…

ByProf. Grace A. Musila, Merlin MitschkerDec 6, 202510 min read

Introduction This interview was conducted during a conference hosted by the Chair of African Legal Studies (26 – 28 November…

Law and Belonging in the Context of SOGIESC Rights: The…

Law and Belonging in the Context of SOGIESC Rights: The…

BySabrina SteudtelNov 28, 20259 min read

Introduction Belonging is not visibility, and it is not law on paper. It is the ability to live without fear,…

EACOP and Land Rights: Addressing Legal Inequities Between Uganda’s Indigenous…

EACOP and Land Rights: Addressing Legal Inequities Between Uganda’s Indigenous…

ByViviane WenischNov 21, 20258 min read

Introduction Uganda’s pursuit of economic development through large-scale projects, such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), has raised…

“Unfortunately, we are not allowed to express ourselves”: epistemic injustice…

“Unfortunately, we are not allowed to express ourselves”: epistemic injustice…

ByGéraldine MboloNov 14, 20259 min read

Introduction Human rights’ global relevance and legitimacy can and must be strengthened by grounding the development and interpretation of human…

A Crisis in Plain Sight: Forging a New Strategy Against…

A Crisis in Plain Sight: Forging a New Strategy Against…

ByGerald MandisodzaNov 7, 20255 min read

A Crisis in Plain Sight Human trafficking is a devastating crisis across Southern Africa, with Zimbabwe at its epicentre. This…

  • The Poem as Feeling: Belonging and Discomfort
    I wrote the poem Robes Rob Us in a moment when my mind was clouded by the pressure of completing my PhD journey.  It was during a conference on ‘Belonging and the Law as Relational Praxis’[1] at the Chair of African Legal Studies, a space where one would be expected to speak in the familiar…
  • Between Human Rights Law and African Literature: Interview with Grace A. Musila
    Introduction This interview was conducted during a conference hosted by the Chair of African Legal Studies (26 – 28 November 2025) at the University of Bayreuth, marking the culmination of the four-year research project “Intractable Problems of Human Rights”, which particularly focused on the issues of child labour, LGBTIQ+ and Human Trafficking on the African…
  • Law and Belonging in the Context of SOGIESC Rights: The Case of South Africa
    Introduction Belonging is not visibility, and it is not law on paper. It is the ability to live without fear, to move in public without calculating risk, and to express oneself without anticipating punishment. [1] For people whose Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) fall outside dominant norms, belonging is often…
  • How African countries are managing the potentially catastrophic risks of just transition through the investment regime
    Introduction      Foreign investment has long been an important policy tool for countries seeking to transform their economies. The international investment regime—comprising treaties and institutions—has supported this objective by creating policies to attract and protect investment. For developing countries, foreign investment plays a particularly crucial role in alleviating poverty, generating employment opportunities, and fostering economic…
  • Branching Scenario Tool
    Environmental Law and Climate Justice: Case Study on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Introduction Welcome to the Branching Scenarios Tool “Environmental Law and Climate Justice: Case Study on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline”! This digital tool was developed as part of a seminar held by the Chair of African Legal Studies at the…
  • Environmental Impact Assessment in Rwanda: Legal Framework and Challenges
    Introduction Environmental impact assessments are essential processes used to evaluate the potential effects of a proposed project on the environment before implementation. In Africa, their integration into national legislation varies significantly, but most countries recognize their importance for sustainable development. Rwanda’s environmental law, Article 6, states that “The principle of information dissemination and incentives for…
  • Investment and Investor Protection in Somalia
    Introduction With Somalia’s accession to the East African Community (EAC), the internal market of this community is also becoming increasingly attractive for foreign investments. A common market with over 300 million populations is developing, and there is not only a common internal market. It also has an excellent strategic location from the Indian Ocean to…
  • The East African Community: Past Experiences and Lessons for the Future
    Introduction The East Africa Community (EAC) is one of the oldest regional economic blocs in the world.[1] Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, as members of EAC, had a customs union as early as 1927.[2] While this regional bloc collapsed in 1977, it was re-established in 2000 and grew from three to eight countries, including Uganda, Kenya,…
  • The Legal Analysis of Community Rights in Environment Decision-Making in the Federal Republic of Somalia
    Introduction People often feel hopeless and powerless to protect the environment, themselves, their families and their individual rights. However, through the creative use of the law, a number of notable successes for the environment and people have been recorded in many countries.[1] Environmental decision-making in Somalia stands at the intersection of legal, social, and environmental considerations, with…